As humans, we experience emotions far beyond primal fear and anger. We experience empathy, pride, and shame. That emotional complexity is but one of the traits that differentiates humans from other members of the animal kingdom. Human mating may be one of the most important of those emotions. The study of how those emotions played to the advantage of our ancestors, and how they have developed through the ages is evolutionary psychology. 

One of the preeminent authorities on evolutionary psychology, especially human mating, will be the first speaker for Midwestern State University's Fall 2019 Artist-Lecture Series. Dr. David Buss, Professor of Psychology at The University of Texas, will speak about sexual conflict in human mating at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, in Akin Auditorium.

Buss is well-known for his studies on mate selection; infidelity; tactics of mate retention, mate attraction, and mate poaching; and the mating emotions of jealousy, lust, and love. He lectures widely within the United States and internationally, and has appeared in science documentaries and in breaking news stories as an expert on human mating strategies. He also has taught at University of California Berkeley, Harvard University, and the University of Michigan.

At UT, Buss is head of Individual Differences and Evolutionary Psychology and supervises evolutionary psychology Ph.D. students. He has published more than 300 scholarly articles. His books include The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating; Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind; The Dangerous Passion: Why Jealousy is as Necessary as Love and Sex; The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind is Designed to Kill; and Why Women Have Sex (with Dr. Cindy Meston). He has been cited by the scientific social networking site ResearchGate as the most read professor at UT.

His recent research focuses on the dark side of human nature, including conflict between the sexes, jealousy, stalking, intimate partner violence, and murder. He also has active research programs on the mating emotions and the psychology of prestige, status, and reputation.

The Artist-Lecture Series was established in 1964 and since then has since brought many noted lecturers, musicians, and personalities to the MSU campus and the Wichita Falls community.

Admission is $20 for general public; $18 for senior citizens, active-duty military, and MSU alumni; free to MSU students, faculty, and staff with ID. Tickets are available at the Clark Student Center Information Desk. For tickets or more information, contact the Office of Student Affairs at 940-397-7500 or student.affairs@msutexas.edu.